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Rowley: Picketers are protesting wrong site

January 12, 2009

By Staff

Picketers who have off and on picketed near the Hilton Garden Inn are misinformed, according to Rowley Property officials.

The picketing is an action designed to draw attention to a labor dispute with a hotel project in Bothell. But that project and Rowley, and the Hilton Garden Inn, are unrelated, said Rowley spokeswoman Kristi Tripple.

“We are saddened and disappointed that the union has chosen to disrupt the operations of our hotel and other nearby businesses with the sole intent of publicizing its dispute, of which we are not a party,” Tripple said. “Rowley Properties has absolutely no connection with Bothell hotel’s construction or the selection of contractors or subcontractors.”

The picketers first gathered Dec. 8 to protest the hiring of a subcontractor at the Bothell Hilton Garden Inn location.

The group, representing the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, was protesting the hiring of Paras Concrete, a concrete subcontractor, for the Bothell Hilton Garden Inn project. But the only thing the two have in common are the name brand they share.

“We respect the group’s right to picket. However, our ownership does not control the Bothell Hilton Garden Inn hotel franchise, nor do we have any control in the hiring of contractors to that property,” said Will Parkinson, general manager. “It’s important to be clear the Bothell property is not part of our hotel ownership.”

Paras Concrete never worked on the Hilton Garden Inn in Issaquah while the project was under construction.